Leaven and leavened dough

Synopsis

In this discussion, we read that leaven, leavened fermentation and leavened bread are all the same thing. In response to Rabbi Yehuda's query about why, if it is so important, Yisrael is only restricted from eating leaven seven days a year, Rabbi Shimon replies that this is an annual celebration of the days that they went out of bondage.

Bread Evil Evil Inclination Grades Leaven Year

166. This is what Rabbi Shimon said, It is written, "But on the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses; for whoever eats leavened bread" (Shemot 12:15). I have explained it thus, leaven and leavened dough are one level, and are all the same. The other dominion is the ministers appointed over the other nations, whom we call Evil Inclination, another dominion, strange El, Other Elohim. Here also, leaven, leavened dough and leavened bread are all the same. The Holy One, blessed be He, said, 'All these years, you were under the authority of others and served another nation. From now on, you are free men. "But on the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses...you shall eat nothing leavened" (Ibid. 20) and "there shall no leavened bread be seen with you" (Shemot 13:7).

166. וְהַיְינוּ דְּאָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, מַאי דִּכְתִּיב, אַךְ בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן תַּשְׁבִּיתוּ שְּׂאוֹר מִבָּתֵּיכֶם כִּי כָּל אוֹכֵל מַחְמֶצֶת. אָנָא הָכִי אוֹקִימְנָא, הַאי שְּׂאוֹר, וְהַאי מַחְמֶצֶת, דַּרְגָּא חַד אִינּוּן, וְכֻלְּהוּ חַד. רְשׁוּ אוֹחֲרֵי, אִינּוּן שָׁלְטָנִין, דִּמְמָנָן עַל שְׁאַר עַמִּין, וְקָרֵינָן לְהוּ יֵצֶר הָרָע, רְשׁוּתָא אַחֲרָא, אֵל נֵכָר, אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים. אוּף הָכִי, שְּׂאוֹר, וּמַחְמֶצֶת, וְחָמֵץ, וְכֹלָּא חַד. אָמַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כָּל הָנֵי שָׁנֵי, קַיְימִתוּ בִּרְשׁוּתָא אַחֲרָא, עַבְדִין לְעַם אַחֲרָא, מִכָּאן וּלְהָלְאָה דְּאַתּוּן בְּנֵי חוֹרִין, אַךְ בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן תַּשְׁבִּיתוּ שְּׂאוֹר מִבָּתֵּיכֶם. כָּל מַחְמֶצֶת לֹא תֹאכֵלוּ. וְלֹא יֵרָאֶה לְךָ חָמֵץ.

Bread Leaven Seven Year

167. אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, אִי הָכִי כָּל יְמֵי שַׁתָּא נָמֵי, אֲמַאי שִׁבְעַת יוֹמִין, דִּכְתִּיב שִׁבְעַת יָמִים שְּׂאוֹר לֹא יִמָּצֵא בְּבָתֵּיכֶם, שִׁבְעַת יָמִים, וְלָא יַתִּיר. א"ל, כָּל זִמְנָא דְּאִתְחַיָּיב בַּר נָשׁ לְאִתְחֲזָאָה גַּרְמֵיהּ בֶּן חוֹרִין, הָכִי אִצְטְרִיךְ, כָּל זִמְנָא דְּלָא אִתְחַיָּיב לָא אִצְטְרִיךְ.

Bread Grades Leaven Year

168. This is comparable to a king who appointed a person to be a minister. He rejoiced and wore clothes of glory all those days that he was being elevated to this level, but afterwards he did not need it. The following year, he observed those days that he rose to this honor and wore those clothes, and he did so each and every year. Similarly with Yisrael, it is written, "Seven days shall there be no leaven found," for they are days of rejoicing, the days that they arose to this honor, and went out of another bondage. Every year, they observed those days when they rose to this honor and went out of another authority and came under holy authority. Therefore, it is written, "Seven days shall you eat unleavened bread."

168. לְמַלְכָּא דְּעָבֵד לְחַד בַּר נָשׁ רוּפִינוּס, כָּל אִינּוּן יוֹמִין דְּסָלִיק לְהַאי דַּרְגָּא, חַדֵּי, וְלָבִישׁ לְבוּשֵׁי יְקַר, לְבָתַר לָא אִצְטְרִיךְ. לְשַׁתָּא אַחֲרָא נָטִיר אִינּוּן יוֹמִין דְּסָלִיק לְיָקִירוּ דָּא, וְלָבַשׁ אִינּוּן לְבוּשִׁין, וְכֵן כָּל שַׁתָּא וְשַׁתָּא כְּהַאי גַּוְונָא יִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּתִיב, שִׁבְעַת יָמִים שְּׂאוֹר לֹא יִמָּצֵא, דְּאִינּוּן יוֹמֵי חֶדְוָותָא, יוֹמִין דְּסָלִיקוּ לִיקָרָא דָּא, וְנַפְקוּ מִשִּׁעְבּוּדָא אַחֲרָא. וּבְגִין כַּךְ, נַטְרִין בְּכָל שַׁתָּא וְשַׁתָּא, יוֹמִין דְּסָלִיקוּ לְהַאי יְקַר, וְנַפְקוּ מֵרְשׁוּתָא אַחֲרָא, וְעָאלוּ בִּרְשׁוּתָא קַדִּישָׁא, וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב, שִׁבְעַת יָמִים מַצּוֹת תֹאכֵלוּ.